LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — University of Nebraska-Lincoln officials have selected a new state geologist.

Robert Joeckel has taken over for Mark Kuzila, who held the position for 16 years.

Joeckel said in a university news release that his research priorities in the post will include investigating the geological framework of the Ogallala aquifer and the paleo-environmental record within Nebraska’s ice age sedimentary record.

Joeckel joined the Conservation and Survey Division of the School of Natural Resources as a research geologist in 2000. He is curator of geology in the University of Nebraska State Museum. He has a doctorate in geology from the University of Iowa.